Coach Accused of Slapping Student Over ‘Six-Seven’ Joke

Wrestling Coach in Connecticut Faces Assault Charges

A wrestling coach from Connecticut, known for his calm demeanor, recently lost his composure when he allegedly slapped a student in response to a joke during practice.

This joke involved the “six-seven” meme popular on social media, where someone moves their hands up and down in opposing directions while holding them out, palms up.

Stephen E. Nelson, who also teaches math at Norwich Free Academy, seemed less than impressed with a student’s leisurely pace on a stationary bike. He reportedly urged the athletes to bump up their speed from 30 to between 60 and 70 revolutions per minute.

In reaction, the student remarked, “Coach, six, seven,” as reported in an unsealed arrest warrant.

On April 16, Nelson was arraigned on charges of third-degree assault and risking injury to a child, with a court date set for May 26.

The day after the incident, on December 31, Nelson was placed on paid administrative leave. According to the arrest warrant, the student described feeling like he had been slapped.

The student experienced pain and headaches, even reporting that his left ear was ringing. He was taken to a local hospital, where he was diagnosed with a concussion and a head injury.

Police noted a mark on the student’s cheek, measuring around 1.5 inches by 1.5 inches. The student stated he had told Nelson not to touch his face and that after he began to cry, the coach responded, “Oh, you did great. Is that why you’re crying?”

In his defense, Nelson claimed he merely “patted” the player to help him refocus.

A neurologist who examined the student suggested that the symptoms indicated a concussion suffered on the day of the incident, although he noted that those symptoms seemed to be improving. He added that the headaches might have stemmed from the cervical spine.

Video footage from practice on that day shows the coach and the students wrestling. Police allege that Nelson was seen making contact with the player’s face using his elbow.

However, a member of the wrestling team present during the incident asserts that the coach only lightly hit the student with the bike. Additionally, a former team member’s mother alleged that Nelson had previously referred to her son as the team’s “cancer,” leading them to feel ostracized and discouraged.